Official: Portland Timbers trade Fanendo Adi to FC Cincinnati for piles of allocation money

After weeks of rumors, it is finally official: Fanendo Adi no longer plays for the Portland Timbers. The Timbers announced on their website this morning that Adi has been traded to USL and 2019 Major League Soccer expansion side FC Cincinnati. In exchange, the Timbers will receive $450,000 in General Allocation Money and $400,000 in Targeted Allocation Money next season, up to $100,000 in additional TAM depending on Adi’s 2019 performance, and a percentage of any international transfer before the end of the 2020 summer transfer window.

Adi’s transfer was foreshadowed when word came out over the weekend that Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo would be his last with the team. After scoring the game-winning goal, Adi took to the capo stand to say an emotional goodbye to the Timbers Army.

Adi leaves the Timbers having scored 54 goals in 126 regular season appearances for the side, the second most in Timbers history behind only Diego Valeri. Adi also made six post-season appearances, scoring two playoff goals for the Timbers en route to their 2015 MLS Cup win.

On Sunday, with his departure impending but not yet official, Adi tweeted out a note of thanks to the Portland soccer community, then followed that up this morning with a video giving thanks that was released by the Timbers.

With FC Cincinnati set to join MLS next season, Timbers fans will see no shortage of Adi in action on television. However, with the big man set to be in the Eastern Conference, it is only a scheduling coin flip that will decide if he visits Providence Park next year.

The Portland Timbers press release:

TIMBERS ACQUIRE IN EXCESS OF $850,000 IN ALLOCATION MONEY, FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS FROM FC CINCINNATI IN EXCHANGE FOR STRIKER FANENDO ADI

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has acquired $450,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2019 and $400,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) in 2019 from FC Cincinnati in exchange for forward Fanendo Adi. Additionally, the Timbers will receive up to $100,000 in future TAM based on Adi’s performance with FC Cincinnati in 2019, and Portland retains a percentage of any international transfer value on Adi until the closing of the 2020 summer transfer window.

“In five seasons with the Timbers, Fanendo Adi made massive contributions to this club, and words cannot fully express how appreciative we are for everything he gave to the Timbers in his time with us,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers. “Adi’s place in Timbers history is firmly entrenched, as one of the top goal-scorers across all eras of the club and for his considerable efforts in helping lead Portland to its first MLS Cup in 2015. This opportunity with FC Cincinnati will be beneficial both to Adi, and to our club, as we build for the short term and long term. On behalf of the entire club, I want to wish Fanendo and his family all the best as he embarks on the next stage of his career in MLS.”

Acquired by the club on May 13, 2014, Adi, 27, tallied 54 goals and 14 assists in 126 regular-season appearances (102 starts) during five seasons with the Portland. Since making his debut with the Timbers on May 17, 2014, Adi’s 54-goal production in regular-season play ranks as the eighth-most in the league during that stretch. Additionally, Adi’s total of 13 braces in league play ranks among the leaders in MLS.

“Fanendo Adi has been a tremendous player for this club for the past five years, and I have enjoyed coaching him and getting to know him as a person since my arrival,” said Giovanni Savarese, head coach of the Timbers. “This is a great opportunity for him within the league, and on behalf of the entire coaching staff, I wish him continued success in the future.”

With 54 league goals, Adi ranks second in club history across all eras (since 1975) for goals scored and 11th for games played (126). Additionally, Adi holds the Timbers single-season record for multi-goal performances, tallying five regular-season braces in Portland’s 2015 championship-winning campaign. Adi also posted six postseason appearances for Portland, playing every minute during the club’s 2015 MLS Cup playoff run, scoring twice, as the Timbers went on to win their first MLS Cup. In his final season with the club, Adi made 14 appearances (9 starts), tallying three goals and two assists in 823 minutes played in the 2018 campaign.

Transaction: The Portland Timbers acquire $450,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2019 and $400,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) in 2019 from FC Cincinnati in exchange for forward Fanendo Adi. Portland will receive up to $100,000 in future TAM based on Adi’s performance with FC Cincinnati in 2019, and the Timbers retain a percentage of any international transfer value on Adi until the closing on the 2020 summer transfer window.